Flash cars a church charity bill

Brian Tamaki. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Former Rotorua Destiny Church leaders Brian and Hannah Tamaki bought five cars - including a luxury Audi - through a charity that is more than a year overdue in filing an annual return.

Financing statements filed with the Companies Office show Te Hahi o Nga Matamua Holdings bought a new Audi Q7 valued at $100,000, to be used by church leaders Brian and Hannah Tamaki, on a lease-purchase arrangement.

The church charity, which last filed an annual return in 2012, also bought four Toyota Aurion Sportivo SX6 3.5s valued at $27,990 each.

According to the Charities Register, the charity's main purpose is for community development, religious activities and fundraising.

The Audi has a personalised number plate, PROT0N.

The purchase of the Audi was signed off by Tania Pene, the Tamakis' closest adviser.

Independent charity researcher Michael Gousmett said: "That's not what charity is about. These organisations are here to provide public benefit and, if you've got members of this organisation running around in super-expensive vehicles, you've got to ask the question to what extent are they providing public benefit rather than looking after their own self-interests?"

He said it had become common for a charity to also be listed as a limited liability company. "I wonder how much this is being taken advantage of in the charity sector."

In June, Hannah Tamaki took out a personal loan against an E350 CDI Mercedes Benz - which retails for $99,000 new - and held on to the PROT0N number plate.

Te Hahi o Nga Matamua Holdings' last annual return filed with the Charities Service was for the year ending March 30, 2012. It was one of 14 Destiny-affiliated charities that are late in filing annual returns. Destiny Church spokeswoman Anne Williamson did not return a request for comment.

The Charities Service told the Herald on Sunday last week it had sent late notices about the overdue filing of the 14 charities.